SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. When creating a website for your brand, it is important to understand that it needs to be indexed for search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. If your website is not indexed then it will be difficult to find. When trying to rank for specific local keywords you must choose a site title, index the site and create a sitemap. These are some of the first steps in the SEO process and if not done properly you can hurt your chances of being found. Here are some strategies to help you stay ahead of the curve in 2019.

Google My Business

For small and medium sized businesses, Google My Business is a great way to get found. Most business owners are probably aware of Google Business, but it needs to be noted that there is much more to it than just creating a profile. For starters, you need to verify your location, which can’t be a PO box. Your business address must be a real physical address. Make sure your profile is filled out accurately and that you are selecting the correct business categories. Upload images and posts to show that your business is active. It also helps to respond to reviews. There are many things you can do within Google My Business to help grow your profile and get found.

Blogging

In today’s digital world establishing a content strategy is one of the most important ways to get noticed. Aside from social media content, you want to be publishing relevant, valuable long-form content on your WordPress blog. This can also be broken down into short-form posts for social. The best way to start a blog is by signing up for Managed WordPress hosting on GoDaddy. Blogging on WordPress will prompt Google to recrawl your site for fresh content. Google will analyze pageviews, time on page, and many other factors to determine your ranking. Sometimes it can take a few months before Google can take all factors into account and start ranking you. If blogging is done correctly then good things will happen.

Guest Posts

Another great way to get your website noticed is through guest posting. Many major niche blogs offer guest posting programs. Sign up for these programs and start contributing to multiple communities. This will help you establish yourself as a thought leader within your industry. Be sure to write thoughtful posts so editors want you to come back to contribute again. Guest posting is a symbiotic relationship for both sides and needs to be a priority for marketing teams.

Backlinks From Sites With High Domain Authority

Many SEO experts advise against paid backlink strategies. Backlinks are supposed to happen organically. Larger websites with high domain authority take notice of high quality content and hyperlink those articles in their posts. You should never pay for backlinks because Google wants results to be organic, which is why they are starting to take notice of sites abusing backlink strategies and ranking them accordingly. Cheating the system is never a good idea.

In some cases, a website with few backlinks can rank higher than a website with thousands. This is because the site with fewer backlinks most likely has higher quality backlinks from websites with high domain authority. For example, getting one backlink in a Forbes article would carry more weight than a backlink from thousands of unknown niche sites with minimal traffic.

Heading Into The New Year

2019 will be a big year for the economy. There is no better time to be an entrepreneur. As innovation drives the digital landscape forward it is important to stay informed and on top of useful strategies. Heading into the new year it will be important to keep these local SEO strategies in mind if you are a small business owner, personal brand, freelancer, or entrepreneur looking to get found online.